Roundabout



V(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. P. PERE'W ROUNDABOUT.

No. 499,800. Patented June 20, '1893.

4,Sheets-Sheet 2. L. P. PBREW.

ROUNDABOUT.

(NoModel.) .l

No. 499,800. Patented June 20, 1893.

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ROUNDABOUT.

Patented June 20, 1893.

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. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. L. P. PEREW. -ROUNDABOUT.

(No Model.)

Patented June 20, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS I. PEREW, OF TONAIVANDA, NEV YORK..

RouNDABouT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,800, dated June 20,1893. Application filed September 7, 1892. Serial No, 445,225. (No model.)

To all whom) it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. PEREW, aciti-v zen of the United States, residing at Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara andState of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roundabouts, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to improvements lin machines commonly known asroundabouts or merry-go-rounds and which consist essentially of-a rotary horizontal platform carrying seats and figures of horses or other animals on which Ypersons are whirlelaround as an amusement.

One object of my invention is to combine with the'machine a rotunda or inclosure in which may be placed a picture gallery, and a stage for theatrical performances for adding interest to the device and rendering its operation more profitable.

My invention has the further obj ect to simplify the construction of the machine and facilitate the transportation and assemblage of its parts.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of four sheets Figu're l is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on an enlarged scale, with the canopy removed. Fig.l 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the means for connecting the radial joints of the stage. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the stage and one of the inner roller supports of thel rotary platform. Fig. 5 is a top planviewofthe sa1ne. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in` line ar-x3 Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional inside elevation of the tripping mechanism for operating the picture rack. Fig. 8 is a sectional top plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a vertical section in line fy-y, Fig. S.y Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modification of the means for shifting the picture rack. Fig. ll

is a vertical section in line z-z, Fig. l0.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. p

A represents a circular elevated stage arranged centrally in the machine and provided with a series of radial beams or joists ct resting with their outer portions upon upright posts a', while their inner ends rest upon a central block or post a2. The inner ends of the radial joints are fitted snuglyagainst each The joist-s are covered by a C is the rotating platform arranged around the stage and upon the outer portion of which. the seats c and the wooden horses or other gures c are supported. The platform consists essentially of `a number of radial arms d connected by sections of liooring cl. The central portions of the platform arms are supported upon wheels or trucksE which run upon a circular track E.

F represents brackets secured to the inner end of each platform arm. Each of these brackets is provided with a vertical roller f which rests upon the stage adjacent to its outer edge and a horizontal roller f which bearsagainst the periph eral edge of the stage. The vertical rollers assist in supporting the rotating platform while the horizontal rollers serve to steady the platform and prevent any lateral movement of the same.

G is a rotunda or circular inclosure located upon the platform within the annular series of seats and figures.

G is a canopy arranged over the stage, rotunda and rotating platform and supported in any suitable manner. y

In the rotunda may be placed a panorama or picture gallery, or if desired, a theatrical performance may be conducted upon the stage, the rotunda being provided with windows or sight apertures g g throughwhich the pictures or other attractions within the rotunda may be seen.

g2 are stools or seats for the spectators.

The rotunda has preferably two rows of windows, the lower row g consisting of lenses or magnifying glasses, and the upper row g of colored glass, forming an ornament which improves the appearance of the rotunda.

In the construction represented in the drawings, a picture rack H is arranged in the rotunda adjacent to the magnifying glasses, which rack carries a series of holders 7L for the pictures. The rack H is circular in form and supported on an ti-friction rollers h which are journaled in bearings mounted upon a frame or ring h2 which latter is supported from the rotunda by legs 71,3 as represented in Fig. 2 or by other means. The picture rack is shifted once during every revolution of the rotunda by a trip device so as to change the pictures in front of the magnifying glasses. This trip device consists essentially of a rotating shifting roller bearing against the underV side of the picture rack land provided with radial trip arms t" which are adapted lto engage against a row of stationarypins 2.

The shifting rollervl is arranged transverselyl underneath the picture rack and is journaled in bearings j secured to the supporting ring h2. The stationary pins t2, which are preferably four in number, are arranged equidistant, and secured to a stationary bar J and extend across the path of the trip arms t of the shifting roller. As the rotunda rotates, the trip arms t" strike the pins '2 which latter cause the shifting roller to rotate and move the picture rack. The supporting bar J is secured to the upper ends of standards j or other@ stationary part of the machine. The pins t2 are so disposed on the supporting bar J that they will move the shifting roller and picture rack sufliciently to shift the pictures from one window in the rotunda to the next. After the trip arms i have passed the stationary pins 112, the picture rack remains immov-.

able with reference to the rotunda during a complete revolution of the latter and is shifted a distance equal to the space between the pictures once during every revolution of the rotunda, thereby presenting the pictures successively to thel spectators.

K represents a pressure roller which presses against the upper side of the picture rack above the shifting roller, so as to increase the friction between said rack and the shifting roller. This pressure roller is pivoted to the upper end of a carrying arm 7a which latter is pivoted with its lower end to one of the bearings of the shifting roller. The pressure roller is drawn down upon the picture rack by a spring 7c secured with its ends to the supporting ring k2 and the upper end of the carrying arm lo. If desired, the contact surfaces between the shifting roller and picture rack may be provided with a rubber facing for the purpose of increasing the frictional connection between these parts. As represented in Figs. lO and 1l the shifting rolleris replaced by a-gear wheel 7a2, which engages with an annular gear rack 7c3 secured to the under side of the picture rack. This construction insures a positivemovement of the picture rack so that the pictures wil-l always be in line with the windows.

L represents a steadying spring whereby the picture rack is held in position after it has been shifted by the shifting device, thereby preventing the picture rack from being displaced by the jarring of the machine. This spring is secured at one end to the rotunda and provided at its opposite end with a catch shoulderl which engages with one of a series of notches Z formed in the outer peripheral side of the picture rack. The notches in the picture rack are arranged so that the steadying spring L will engage with one of the notches when the pictures are in line with the windows. When'the picture rack is moved by the shifting device, the steadying spring L is deflected out of the notch and engages with the next notch when the picture rack reaches the end of its movement.

The rotunda is preferably divided vertically into sections tofacilitate its transportation, and the several sections are firmly bound together by clamping bolts m'passing through ears secured to the inner' sides of the sections.

The machine is driven from a steam engine 0r other motor by a belt n running around the circular platform.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with the rotary platform and the rotunda or inclosure mounted thereon and providedwith windows or apertures, of a movable picture raclr arranged within the rotunda opposite said windows, and adapted to move with the rotunda, while capable of moving independently thereof, and a fixed obstruction arranged adjacent to said picture rack, whereby the rack is shifted by striking said obstruction, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the rotary platform and the rotunda or inclosure mounted IOO thereon and provided with windows or aperv tures, of a movable picture rack arranged within the rotunda adjacent to the windows or apertures, a shifting roller bearing against the picture rack and provided with arms, and a stationary pin against which said arms are adapted to engage, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the rotary platform and the rotunda Ior inclosure mounted thereon and provided with windows or apertures, of a movable picture rack arranged within the rotunda adjacent to the windows or apertures, a shifting roller bearing against one side of the picture rack and provided with arms, a pressure roller bearing against the other side of the picture rack, and a stationary bar provided with pins against which said arms are adapted to engage, substantially as set forth. v

4. The combination with the rotary platform and the rotunda or inclosure mounted thereon and provided with Windows or apertures, of a supporting frame secured to the inner side of the rotunda rand provided with rollers, a circular picture rack resting upon said rollers, a shifting roller bearing against the under side of the picture rack and pro-- vided with radial arms, a carrying arm pivoted upon the supporting frame and provided with a pressure roller bearing against the upper side of the picture rack, a spring connecting the carrying arml with the supporting frame, and a stationary bar provided with pins against which the arms of the shifting roller are adapted to engage, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the rotary platform and the rotunda or inolosure mounted thereon and provided withwindows or aper-4 tures, of a movable picture rack arranged opposite said windows, provided with notches,`

and adapted to move with the rotunda, while capable of moving independently thereof, an obstruction arranged adjacent to saidpieture rack whereby the rack is shifted, and a spring secured with lone end .tothe rotunda and. l

adapted to engage with its other end in said notches, substantially as set forth.

6.- In a round-about, the combination with the center block, of radial beams or joints resting with their inner ends upon said block and provided with transverse grooves or depressions forming together a circular groove and a tie ring fitted snugly in said grooves Vwhereby the beams or joists are held against longitudinal movement, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 1st day of September,l892.

LOUIS P. PEREW.

Witnesses: I

THEO. L. PoPP, FRED. GEYER. 

